Art of attaching heels to shoes



July 27, 1937.

E. H. BASTABLE ART OF ATTACHING HEELS T0 SHOES Filed April 5, 1935 Inventor: Zdward 17. BasiaZe,

Q Patented July 27, 1937 UNITED STATES,

ART OF ATTACHING HEELS T SHOES Edward H. Bastable, Jamaica Plain, Masa, as-

signor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. .L, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 5, 1935, Serial No. 14,893

13 Claims.

This invention relates to the attachment of heels to shoes, it being especially applicable to the temporary securing of said heels in preparation for the insertion of final fastenings.

In the attaching of shoe-heels, and particularly those of wood, it is a common practice to interpose an adhesive between the heel-seat-surface of a shoe and,the cup of a heel which is to be applied thereto, and then to fix the heel temporarily in place by a screw-fastening until said adhesive has set. After this, the temporary fastening is removed, and permanent fastening means, as a screw or nails, inserted. On account of irregularities of the heel-seat-surface and lack of correspondence between the contours of said surface and the cup of the heel which is to be seated thereon, it is difiicult to obtain proper contact between the surfaces and therefore an adequate adhesive bonding. It is an object of this invention to attain, by a simple procedure and means for giving it efiect, a firm union between the shoe-parts.

A feature of the invention by which the above object is attained consists in a method of attaching heels to shoes, in which, after an adhesive 25 has been applied to one or more of the surfaces of the heel and heel-seat to be joined and the heel positioned upon the heel-seat, pressure is applied to the inner face of the heel-seat-por tion, while, simultaneously, forces are also applied to the last and heel, as by a fastening which engages the last, the heel and the heel-seat-surface. In this way, the heel-seat-material is forced into the cup of the heel, and, at the same time, the periphery of said cup and the heel-seat are urged together. There results an almost unbroken contact of the opposed surfaces, furnishing both the desired adhesive contact and a tight crease. The adhesive joint will consequently possess a high degree of strength, and the work will have a good appearance. Preferably, a threaded and shouldered fastening is employed, the thread engaging the heel, while one fasteningshoulder contacts with a shoulder in the last and another fastening-shoulder with the inner surface of the heel-seat-portion of the shoe. The last-shoulder may also serve, by engagement with it of a shoulder upon a drill, to determine the depth of the hole in the heel which the screwportion of the fastening is to enter.

Another feature of my invention concerns a last-and-fastening assembly for use in the performance of the above method. The last has a passage opening through the heel-seat-portion, and with this last a fastening is combined, said fastening having heel-entering means, means by which its movement through the passageopening is prevented and acting within the last, and means for engaging the surface of the shoebottom normally contacting with the last. The

first and second of these three means, with which the fastening is provided, may be caused to produce the drawing together of the heel and the last and shoe as a whole, while the first and third will act upon the heel-seat-portion of the shoe to bring it into intimate contact with the heel cup. Herein, the first of the means is shown as a screw-threaded shanli upon the fastening, and the last two as shoulders upon the fastening for respective engagement with a shoulder in the last-passage and with the inner surface of the heel-seat of the shoe. The last-shoulder I prefer to form by an extension of the clinch-plate of the last into the passage-opening.

A divisional application, directed to the fastening per se, disclosed herein for use in carrying out my improved method and included in the combination of elements by which such method may be performed, was filed in the United States Patent Ofiice on March 13, 1936, Serial No. 68,736.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts broke away and shown in section, of a shoe mounted on a last constructed in accordance with the present invention; 1

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary sections showing the rear portion of the last and shoe, the fastening means being associated with them and occupying, respectively, its initial and final positions;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the fastening; and.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a drill suitable for the formation of a hole for the reception of the fastening.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates a last which may be of the usual type, except for such details as are hereinafter described pertaining to the present invention. As shown herein, it has the usual spindle-hole 2 and the nail-clinching plate 3 secured to the heelseat portion. Upon the last appears a shoe S.

In accordance with my invention, the rear part of the last is provided with a substantially vertical bore or passage [0, which, for example, may be about 0.31" in diameter. The clinch-plate has a circular opening ll, substantially concentrio with the bore I0 and being somewhat smaller in diameter, for example about 0.21,

to provide an annular shoulder I2 which is in effect integral with the last.

My improved fastening It, which is combined with the last, preferably consists of a unitary piece of case-hardened steel having a cylindrical head furnished with means, such as a slot l6, for receiving a screw-driver or like tool. The diameter of the head is such as snugly to fit the bore ll] of the last, it being greater than the diameter of the opening II in the clinch-plate 3. The head-diameter may be about 0.30". The

inner end of the head terminates in an annular inwardly beveled abutment or shoulder l8 engageable with the shoulder 12 of the last, as shown in Fig. 3. The bevel of the shoulder I8 facilitates the introduction of the fastening into the last-bore and furnishes more extended contact with the inclined surface of the shoulder [2. Next to the head is a cylindrical hub l9, this being slightly smaller in diameter than the opening in the clinch-plate, for example 0.195" to 0.200", the end 20 of the hub being flat and providing a second abutment or shoulder to engage the insole of a shoe on the last. The length of the hub may be varied in accordance with the heel to be attached, the thickness of the clinchplate, etc. In all cases, it should be such as to project outwardly beyond the clinch-plate a distance sufficient to force the heel-seat material of the shoe S by contact of the shoulder 20 into close engagement with the cup of the heel to be attached. The shank or end 22 of the fastening l4 opposite the head is screw-threaded, the length being such as to enter the heel far enough to insure a firm grip, while its pitch may be substantially the same as an ordinary No. 10 woodscrew.

A drill 25 used to form a hole in the work to receive the threaded shank 22 should be of a size which will pass freely through the opening I I in the plate 3, for example about 0.185" in diameter. The drill is shown as provided with a shank 21 fitting the bore l of the last. Preferably, the end of the shank adjacent to the drill furnishes a shoulder 28 engageable with the last-shoulder l2, thus providing a stop which limits the depth of the hole to be drilled. The drill may project outwardly beyond the shoulder 28 a distance sufficient to penetrate to a depth of approximately 0.5" into a heel 35 applied to the heel-seat of the shoe S.

My improved method may be carried out by use of the elements above described substantially as follows: An insole 30, outsole 3|, upper 32 and, if desired, a shank piece 33 of the shoe S are assembled about the last I with the margin of the upper turned over on to the under surface of the insole and secured thereto, as, for example, by lasting tacks. The upper 32 may be understood to include an outer element, lining, doubler and counter, if such parts be employed. This shoe may be considered as of the McKay-type. If the invention be applied to shoes of other types, for example turned shoes, wherein but a single sole is employed, the procedure may be modified in such particulars as will best suit the particular shoe being made. The shoe S may have the out sole secured in any desired manner to the lasted insole and upper, and the rear part beveled at its edges to provide a suitable heel-seat for the cup of the heel 35, as is customary. Having prepared the shoe as above outlined, and assuming that it is otherwise ready for the attachment of the heel, I next prefer to apply a coating of an adhesive 40 to the heel-seat-surface of the sole or to the cup-surface of the heel or to both, and having clamped the heel in contact with the heelseat, the drill 25 is introduced through the bore l0 and rotated to provide a hole 42 which extends through the insole 30, outsole 3| and shank-piece 33 and into the heel 35, as shown in Fig. 1. The engagement of the drill-shoulder 28 with the shoulder l2 of the clinch-plate, because of the substantially unvarying position of the stop which it furnishes upon lasts of all sizes, determines accurately the depth of the hole. After the drilling operation has been completed and the drill withdrawn, the fastening I4 is inserted, and by means of a screw-driver or other tool is rotated to cause thethreaded shank 22 to cut its way into the wall of the heel-opening 42, forming a thread therein. During the movement of the fastening, the heel is drawn toward the. lastby the engagement of the shoulder [8 with the shoulder l2 of the last. By reason of the engagement of the shoulder 20 of the fastening with the insole of the shoe, the heel-seat is simultaneously forced away from the last into close contact with the cupped surface of the heel, as will appear by a comparison of Figs. 2 and 3. As the force exerted by the shoulder I8 of the fastening is against the clinch-plate, rigidly secured to the last, a very powerful clamping action is exerted and the heel is firmly drawn against the'heelseat with suflicient pressure to produce a tight crease and to enable the adhesive, while setting, to develop its maximum holding effect. After having maintained the engagement between the heel and heel-seat long enough for the adhesive to set thoroughly, the fastening I4 is removed, and the shoe may then be finished in the usual manner.

While I have disclosed desirable steps by which my improved method may be performed and particular means by which such method may be given effect, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration, and that various modifications in procedure and changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method of attaching heels to shoes which consists in applying an adhesive to a surface of the heel and heel-seat to be joined, positioning the heel upon the heel-seat, inserting a fastening through the heel-seat into the heel, ap plying pressure by the fastening to the inner face of the heelseat-portion of the shoe to force the heel-seat-surface into engagement with the opposed heel-surface, and during the insertion of the fastening and the consequent application of pressure to the heel-seat drawing together the heel and shoe, different portions of the fastening co-operating with the heel-entering portion thereof to create respectively the heel-seat-forcing pressure and the heel-drawing pressure.

2. The method of attaching heels to lasted shoes which consists in coating with an adhesive a surface of a heel and heel-seat to be joined, positioning the heel upon the heel-seat, applying pressure to the inner face of the hee1-seatportion of the shoe to force the heel-seat-surface into engagement with the opposed heel-surface and applying to the last and heel simultaneously with the pressure upon the heel-seat a force urging them together.

3. The method of attaching heels to shoes which consists in applying an adhesive to at least one of the surfaces of the heel-seat of a shoe mounted upon a last and of a heel which is to be attached, positioning the heel upon the heelseat, inserting a fastening having shoulders through the last and shoe-bottom into the heel, causing one of said shoulders to act against a portion of the last to draw the heel and last together, and simultaneously causing the other shoulder to act against the shoe to force the heel-seat away from the last into engagement with the heel.

4. The method of attaching heels to shoes which consists in applying an. adhesive to at least one of the surfaces of a heel and of the heelseat of a shoe, the shoe being mounted upon a last having extending through it a passage provided with an interior shoulder, positioning the heel upon the heel-seat, inserting a fastening having shoulders between its ends through the lastpassage into the heel, causing one of said shoulders to act against the interior shoulder on the last to draw the heel and last together, and simultaneously causing the other shoulder to act against the shoe to force the heel-seat away from the last into engagement with the heel.

5. The method of attaching heels to shoes which consists in applying an adhesive to at least one of the surfaces of a heel and of the heelseat of a shoe, said shoe being mounted upon a last having extending through it and its clinchplate a passage provided with an interior shoulder, positioning the heel upon the heel-seat, inserting a fastening element having shoulders between its ends through the last-passage into the heel, causing one of said shoulders to act against the clinch-plate to draw the heel and last together, simultaneously causing the other shoulder to act against the shoe to force the heel-seat away from the last into engagement with the heel, maintaining such engagement until the adhesive has set, and removing the fastening from the shoe.

6. The method of attaching heels toshoes which consists in applying a layer of adhesive to at least one of the surfaces of a heel and of the heel-seat of a shoe mounted upon a last, positioning the heel upon the heel-seat, drilling a hole through the heel-seat into the heel, inserting a screw-threaded fastening having shoulders through the last and into the hole in the shoebottom and heel, causing one of said shoulders to act against a portion of the last to draw the heel and last together, simultaneously causing the other shoulder to act against the shoe to force the heel-seat away from the last into close engagement with the heel, maintaining such engagement until the adhesive has set, and removing the fastening from the shoe.

7. The method of attaching heels to' shoes which consists in applying an adhesive to at least one of the surfaces of a heel and of the heel-seat of a shoe, the shoe being mounted upon a last having extending through it a passage provided with an interior shoulder, positioning the heel upon the heel-seat, drilling a hole through the heel-seat into the heel to a depth determined by the shoulder in the passage, inserting a fastening having shoulders between its ends through the last-passage into the heel, causing one of said shoulders to act against the interior shoulder on the last to draw the heel and last together, and simultaneously causing the other shoulder to act against the shoe to force the heel-seat away from the last into engagement with the heel.

8. The method of attaching heels to shoes which consists in applying an adhesive to at least one of the surfaces of a heel and of the heel-seat of a shoe, said shoe being mounted upon a last having extending through it and its clinch-plate a passage provided with an interior shoulder, positioning the heel upon the heel-seat, drilling a hole through the heel-seat into the heel to a depth determined by contact with the clinch-plate, inserting a fastening element having shoulders between its ends through the lastpassage into the heel, causing one of said shoulders to act against the clinch-plate to draw the heel and last together, simultaneously causing the other shoulder to act against the shoe to force the heel-seat away from the last into engagement with the heel, maintaining such engagement until the adhesive has set, and removing the fastening from the shoe.

9. In combination, a last having a passage opening through its heel-seat-portion, and a fastening adapted to be received in said passage, said fastening having means for entering a heel, means acting within the passage for limiting movement of the fastening through the passageopening in the last and means for engaging the surface of the shoe-bottom normally contacting with said last.

10. In combination, a last having a passage opening through its heel-seat-portion, in which passage is a shoulder, and a fastening adapted to be received in said passage, said fastening having means for engaging a heel, means for engaging the shoulder and means for engaging the heel-seat-portion of a shoe upon the last.

11. In combination, a last having a passage opening through its heel-seat-portion, in which passage is an annular shoulder, and a fastening adapted to be received in said passage, said fastening having means for engaging a heel and two shoulders, one of which is arranged to engage the shoulder in the last-passage and the other to engage the sole of a shoe mounted on the last and operating to force the heel-seat into engagement with the heel.

12. In combination, a last having a bore extending through its heel-portion and a clinchplate secured to the last and having an opening which registers with the bore and provides an annular shoulder, and a fastening adapted to be received in said bore, said fastening comprising a screw-threaded shank adapted to project through the clinch-plate-opening to engage a heel to be attached, said fastening further having two annular shoulders, one of which is arranged to engage the clinch-plate-shoulder and the other to engage the sole of a shoe mounted on the last and operating to force the heel-seat into engagement with the heel.

13. In combination, a last having a bore extending through the heel-portion and a clinchplate secured to the last and having an opening which registers with the bore and provides an annular shoulder within the last, and a fastening adapted to be received in said bore, said fastening comprising a head fitting within said here, a screw-threaded shank adapted to project through the clinch-plate-opening to engage a heel to be attached, said fastening further having two shoulders, one of which is furnished by the head and is arrangedl to engage the clinch-plateshoulder and the other being adjacent to the inner extremity of the threaded shank and arranged to engage the insole of a shoe mounted on the last and operating to force the heel-seat into engagement with the heel.

EDWARD HI BASTABLE. 

